AN award-winning Ellesmere Port charity has now donated more than £15,000 of educational resources to more than 800 Cheshire children during the coronavirus lockdown.

Since schools across Cheshire closed their doors in March to all but children of key workers, Passion for Learning has been tirelessly working to address the challenges of home schooling for many families across Chester, Ellesmere Port and elsewhere in the county.

CEO Diane Clark said: "We know that many of the children who our volunteers would normally support through sessions in school or at our Enrichment Clubs after school, have been badly impacted by school closures.

"This is not just about missed learning but about the opportunities for social interaction and play, which are so crucial to children’s development and mental wellbeing.

"At this difficult time, our whole team has been working hard to support children in ways which we’ve never done before, but which are so important as families face this unprecedented challenge."

Development manager Viv Couche added: "The results from a recent survey we launched told us that 86 per cent of parents would value resources like books, games, craft materials and science kits to help their children learn at home.

"While most schools are supporting children with links to online learning sites like BBC Bitesize, for families who don’t have internet access or a printer, this is a real problem.

"With the support of funding we’ve secured from key partners including Steve Morgan Foundation and Cheshire Community Foundation, we’ve been able to buy and distribute resources to families across our region. We welcome direct approaches from families via our Facebook page (PassionforLearningCheshire) as well as through the primary schools we partner with."

Enrichment clubs manager Ruth Dixon continued: "Based on our knowledge and understanding of what helps children to learn in a way which feels like pure play, we’ve been putting together bespoke resource packs for families.

"Schools tell us the age and gender of children who they know struggle to access learning at home and we respond to this challenge, putting together high quality resources like books, art materials, jigsaws, science kits and simple games, for them to use independently and as families."

Diane added: "With schools set to remain closed to most year groups until September, we are clear on our priorities for the months ahead.

"We are indebted to our funders and supporters for enabling us to carry out this vital work. Stanlaw Abbey Business Centre have dedicated their conference and training rooms to our resource delivery efforts, which we are so grateful for. The Williams Family Foundation, Westminster Foundation, CWAC and the PCC David Keane have also contributed much needed funds to benefit the local community where this is needed most."

Passion for Learning received a £1,000 express grant from Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane’s Safer Communities Fund to enable them to deliver resources to children, which will help keep them engaged in positive activities whilst schools are closed.

PCC David Keane added: “Children gain so much support both physically and emotionally from the school environment. Children are experiencing a wide range of emotions right now and this pandemic could have a detrimental effect on their wellbeing without positive intervention.

“Some families will be experiencing increased pressures financially and these resource packs will go some way to supporting children to continue to learn and develop, without adding a financial burden to parents and guardians.

“Organisations like Passion for Learning offer hands-on support to the children through enrichment sessions and in the absence of face to face contact have developed a way of ensuring children can engage in positive activities to enhance wellbeing.

“I’m so pleased that I am able to provide grant support through my Safer Communities Fund to local organisations which help them to adapt their services and continue to protect vulnerable people. The fund takes money from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act and reinvests it into local communities.”

  • For more information about the group, visit www.passion-for-learning.com , call 0151 356 8717 or email Diane.clark@passion-for-learning.com.